BoCC Drop In,
Agenda Item #
Board Summary Report
Date:
March 12, 2015
To:
Board of County Commissioners
Through:
David C. Walcher, Sheriff
From:
Olga Fujaros, Budget & Logistics Manager
Subject:
Temporary Increase to Vacation Carry-Over
Direction/Information: The Sheriff’s Office is giving information and requesting authorization.
Request and Recommendation
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office requests the authorization of the Board of County Commissioners
to increase the number of vacation carry-over hours for Sheriff’s Office employees for calendar year 2015
from the current 120 hours to 200 hours. All Sheriff’s Office members will be required to spend the
increased vacation carry-over hours by January 20, 2017. The Sheriff’s Office respectfully recommends
the Board of County Commissioners support this request.
Background
The significant and historical death penalty case that is currently ongoing at the District Courthouse has
caused a very high number of member resources from across the agency to actively work the special
operations detail. As a result, a high number of employees will not have the ability to take accrued
vacation hours until the trial and sentencing has concluded, which is expected to last into late 2015.
Links to Align Arapahoe
Approval of this request will improve process efficiencies.
Discussion
A number of considerations and changes have been made to the Sheriff’s Office deployment models as
result of this operation. The operation is being accomplished while minimizing training, overtime usage
and the need for backfill staffing to the absolute minimum number of personnel to accomplish the
Sheriff’s Office mission without compromising the delivery of service, with the exception of proactive
activity, or compromising safety and security of the Detention Facility.
The ability of command members to approve and allow for the use of accrued vacation time is being
negatively impacted. Most work groups have significantly reduced the number of personnel allowed to
be on vacation at any given time in order to meet the operational needs of the court detail. This is
creating a situation where it is not possible for all impacted employees to utilize accrued vacation hours
down to the maximum carry-over of 120 hours per the Human Resources Guidelines.
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BoCC Drop In,
Agenda Item #
This request is to allow for a higher carry-over of vacation hours for calendar year 2015, and allow a two
year period for members to utilize the increased accrued hours. The purpose for the request to include a
two year period for the hours to be spent down is that if members are required to spend down the
increased number of hours in a shorter time, it will cause staffing to go below minimum numbers on a
regular basis, which increases the need for backfill staffing on overtime.
Alternatives
The Sheriff’s Office can allow for the traditional amount of vacation hours to be used by members during
the court operation, which will increase the need for backfill overtime and may create a situation where
personnel not trained in specific operations will be utilized to fill vacancies.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is minimal. The only expected impact is that the increased carry-over could lead to an
increased financial liability if an employee leaves the Sheriff’s Office while having a higher number of
accrued hours. The fiscal impact is potentially much higher if OT is used to backfill to minimum staffing.
Concurrence
The Sheriff’s Office Detention Services Bureau (which includes Court Services) is in concurrence with this
recommendation.
Reviewed By:
David C. Walcher, Sheriff
Louie Perea, Undersheriff
Vince Line, Detention Services Bureau Chief
Olga Fujaros, Budget & Logistics Manager
Jon Takayama, Human Resources Manager
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